Town of Warwick
Selectboard
July 31, 2017
Minutes
Members present: Dawn Magi, Lawrence Pruyne, James Erviti
Others present: Town Secretary and Town Clerk Rosa Fratangelo, Finance
Committee member Steve Ruggiero, School Committee and HEART Committee
member Sue O'Reilly-McRae, Jared Robinson (Athol Daily News)
I. Call to Order
Chair Pruyne called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. in the Town Hall.
II. Minutes
Erviti MOVED to approve the minutes of July 17, 2017 as printed. Magi
SECONDED. Motion CARRIED 3-0-0.
III.Presentations and Discussions
1. Execute Transfer Station Hauling MOU with Solid Waste
District--There was a Memorandum of Understanding by and between the
Franklin County Solid Waste Management District and the Town of Warwick
regarding hauling of recyclables and hauling and disposal of solid
waste, bulky wastes, scrap metal and appliances.
Magi MOVED to authorize the Chair to sign the Solid Waste Management
agreement. Erviti SECONDED. After some discussion of figures regarding
cost to the Town of either $3.00 or $4.00 per ton, which caused some
confusion, the motion was TABLED.
After further discussion, it was agreed that the $3.00 per ton figure
read from the Coordinator's report was an estimated increase and not a
firm figure. It was noted that all three Board members were to sign the
document, which they did following this motion:
Magi MOVED to sign the FCSWMD Memorandum of Understanding. Erviti
SECONDED. Motion CARRIED 2-0-1; Magi and Pruyne: AYE, Erviti: ABSTAIN
2. Update on Community Compact Grant Application --HEART (Honest
Education and Retaining Trust) Committee and School Committee member Sue
O'Reilly-McRae spoke to the Board and presented a revamped scope
document for the grant application. She explained that the grant would
provide $20,000.00 for data gathering and analysis with the use of an
independent consultant and $5,000.00 for the facilitator to continue
working. O'Reilly-McRae said that this will go out to bid and will be
completely independent of the School District. She said that things to
be looked at will include enrollment trends, analysis of costs,
retirement plans, and ways to support better enrollment. O'Reilly-McRae
explained that this study will provide common information on which to
base future decisions. Erviti stressed that an outside, neutral source
is crucial and the only way to get the School to listen. O'Reilly-McRae
said that the HEART Committee has been meeting twice a month for the
past few months and she characterized the committee as committed to
robust discussion and positive change for the PVRS District. She noted
that the results of the consultant's findings will be a public document
posted on the State website.
Erviti MOVED to approve the Scope document Northfield-Warwick Community
Compact Statement of Work. Magi SECONDED. Motion CARRIED 3-0-0.
3. Fall Special Town Meeting --Magi said that a Fall Special Town
Meeting could be called to reduce the tax levy by $35,000.00. At the May
1, 2017 Annual Town Meeting there was a vote to raise and appropriate
$75,000.00 for a fire rescue/brush truck. Since only $40,000.00 needed
to be spent on the vehicle and new tires, a Special Town Meeting vote
could reduce the tax levy by $35,000.00; without such a vote we would be
required to raise the entire $75,000.00.
Magi MOVED to approve a Special Town Meeting for Fall with a date to be
determined after consulting with the Moderator. Erviti SECONDED. Motion
CARRIED 3-0-0.
4. Old Home Days --Magi asked if more picnic tables could be acquired
before Old Home Days. The Board agreed to discuss this at their next
meeting (August 14th).
5. Selectboard Appointment to Franklin County Planning Board --Pruyne
said that David Young has gone to some meetings, but he would like to
attend one himself before committing to being the Board's
representative. Magi suggested that he ask Young to notify him of the
next meeting. Erviti said that he would also like to attend with Pruyne.
6. Selectboard Reports --Magi noted with sadness the recent passing of
her aunt Hilda Kolka Campbell, a former resident who will be laid to
rest in the Warwick Cemetery.
Magi also noted problems with the Canada geese in the Moore's Pond
area. She said that a resident has been seen feeding the geese and
thought because it is illegal to feed wildlife maybe Police Chief
Shoemaker could be asked to speak to this person. Erviti said that this
falls within the purview of the Massachusetts Environmental Police.
Magi MOVED to contact the Massachusetts Environmental Police regarding
the feeding of wildlife by Moore’s Pond. Erviti SECONDED. Motion CARRIED
3-0-0.
7. Public Comment--Finance Committee member Steve Ruggiero said that he
had selected 48 days at random from the last ten months' worth of
Highway reports. He said that he found that 40 out of those 48 days at
least one, and sometimes two were not at work for a total of 344 hours.
In addition, Ruggiero noted that there were 3 days of comp. time taken
and five days out, and that in his opinion the Highway crew is not
working enough. He questioned how compensatory time works relative to
whether it rolls over from one fiscal year to another. Ruggiero
suggested hiring as Highway Manager a private, independent contractor
such as Wiggins in Northfield as a way to save costs even on equipment.
There was a consensus of the Board to look into this in an effort to get
answers to the questions raised and to explore the private contractor
option.
8. New and Other Business Unanticipated at Time of Meeting
Posting--Erviti said that he has been looking into the cost of hiring a
subcontracted accountant as opposed to an employee. He said that FRCOG
told him all their accountants are busy and none would be available for
Warwick at this time. Erviti showed a quote from Bay State Municipal
Accounting Group for all costs for an accountant in FY17 for $15,0000 He
pointed out that our total Town Accountant budget for FY 18 was around
$17,000.00 and that Bay State Municipal Accounting Group provides
comprehensive services from a professional organization. Erviti said he
would follow up and come back to the Board with more information at a
future meeting as a possible option for some point down the road.
IV.Adjournment
At 6:52 p.m., Magi MOVED to adjourn. Erviti SECONDED. Motion CARRIED
3-0-0.
Documents consulted at this meeting:
*Draft Minutes of July 17, 2017 Selectboard meeting
*Coordinator Report dated July 26, 2017
*MOU between the Franklin County Solid Waste Management District and the
Town of Warwick
*FRCOG letter to Selectboard dated July 5, 2017 Re: Selectboard
Representative to the Franklin
Regional Planning Board
*Email from Air Source Heat Pump to David Young dated July 24, 2017 Re:
MassCEC Air-Source
Heat Pump Rebate Application Received
*Email from Kelly Brissette to Warwick Town Coordinator dated July 27,
2017 Re: Municipal
Listening Session with Congressman Jim McGovern
*Northfield-Warwick Community Compact Statement of Work revised July 23,
2017